Area Man

My husband, Walt, is like many people today who had to start a second career later in life, not by choice but by a matter of necessity. When the steel mills closed, we had two sons in college and knew we did not want to move, so Walt made a life-changing decision and went back to college. After he received his degree as a physical therapy assistant, he never really looked back. Imagine our surprise when a few months ago a family friend Holly Shurin, who works for a cable company in Johnstown, emailed me to ask if Walt would like to be interviewed on his years as a steelworker.

After nearly 42 years in banking, Randy Koontz is hanging up his coveralls for good. Koontz purchased a pair not long after he was hired at Peoples Bank and Trust Co. in Jennerstown in 1971. He and fellow employee Terry Henry - the only male employees in the office - put them to regular use. “When trucks came with boxes of checks or supplies, we always had to go unload them, and we were dressed in suits and white shirts back then,” he said. “We were always getting our clothes dirty.

Charles Miller, 64, Hyndman, was killed and Louella Blevins, 79, Friedens, was critically injured in a car accident on Palo Alto Road in Southampton Township, Saturday, state police said. Blevins and Miller were traveling east when the 1992 Pontiac Grand Am she was driving struck a guiderail shortly after passing another vehicle, state police said. The impact spun the car until it hit the guiderail again and came to a stop. Witnesses and residents attempted to help the occupants until paramedics arrived, police said.

Editor's note: This feature is a collaboration between the Somerset County Sheriff's Department and the Daily American to apprehend individuals who are wanted on warrants for failure to appear to court hearings. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's warrant tip line at 814-445-1413. After failing to appear at a parole violation hearing a Stoystown area man is now wanted on warrants. Alexander Michael Robertson, 24, was scheduled for a hearing June 17 for violated his parole in a retail theft case.

A Jerome area man was still in critical condition Monday following a Saturday evening crash. Matthew Kozak, 34, was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown Saturday. He was the passenger in a car being driven by Erica Gindlesperger, 31, also of the Jerome area. She was listed in fair condition. Conemaugh Township Police Chief Louis Barclay said the crash remains under investigation. A reconstructionist team was called to assist. Barclay said the vehicle was traveling north on Route 403 near The Crow’s Nest restaurant when Gindlesperger failed to negotiate a curve, lost control and hit a telephone pole.

A Rockwood area man is wanted in connection with a 2004 driving under the influence case. Shannon Lee Boyer, 34, was arrested in 2004 for driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty in 2005 and was sentenced to one to five years in the Somerset County Jail. He did not attend a Dec. 16 parole revocation hearing. The following people are wanted on bench warrants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department warrant tip line at 445-1413.

A Hollsopple area man was declared a fugitive after failing to appear at several court hearings. Eli Supanick, 26, is facing theft by unlawful taking charges from 2009. According to court documents, he failed to appear at court hearings on Dec. 14 and Feb. 16. The following people are wanted on bench warrants. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department warrant tip line at 445-1413. Anyone who is caught harboring an individual or hindering the apprehension of an individual wanted by the Court of Common Pleas will face criminal charges.

Editor's note: This feature is a collaboration between the Somerset County Sheriff's Department and the Daily American to apprehend individuals who are wanted on warrants for failure to appear to court hearings. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's warrant tip line at 814-445-1413. After failing to appear at a parole violation hearing a Stoystown area man is now wanted on warrants. Alexander Michael Robertson, 24, was scheduled for a hearing June 17 for violated his parole in a retail theft case.

Crews searched again Monday for a missing Somerset area man who was last seen on New Year's Eve. Stacie Hall, assistant manager at Ohiopyle State Park, said Monday's search for 29-year-old Jeremy Walker focused on the Youghiogheny River. Hall said Walker was seen by his family on New Year's Eve. When they did not hear from him, they started looking for him Wednesday at Ohiopyle and found his car in a parking area. “He was a hiker,” she said. “They knew he was coming down to Ohiopyle and had not heard from him.” Monday's search involved trained personnel who searched the Yough.

After nearly 42 years in banking, Randy Koontz is hanging up his coveralls for good. Koontz purchased a pair not long after he was hired at Peoples Bank and Trust Co. in Jennerstown in 1971. He and fellow employee Terry Henry - the only male employees in the office - put them to regular use. “When trucks came with boxes of checks or supplies, we always had to go unload them, and we were dressed in suits and white shirts back then,” he said. “We were always getting our clothes dirty.

My husband, Walt, is like many people today who had to start a second career later in life, not by choice but by a matter of necessity. When the steel mills closed, we had two sons in college and knew we did not want to move, so Walt made a life-changing decision and went back to college. After he received his degree as a physical therapy assistant, he never really looked back. Imagine our surprise when a few months ago a family friend Holly Shurin, who works for a cable company in Johnstown, emailed me to ask if Walt would like to be interviewed on his years as a steelworker.

A Jerome area man was still in critical condition Monday following a Saturday evening crash. Matthew Kozak, 34, was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown Saturday. He was the passenger in a car being driven by Erica Gindlesperger, 31, also of the Jerome area. She was listed in fair condition. Conemaugh Township Police Chief Louis Barclay said the crash remains under investigation. A reconstructionist team was called to assist. Barclay said the vehicle was traveling north on Route 403 near The Crow’s Nest restaurant when Gindlesperger failed to negotiate a curve, lost control and hit a telephone pole.